Combined bottle filling and capping machine



July 11, 1933. J R N TT] 1,917,796

COMBINED BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1951 III/Pill 2: w 97 I p :12, M

3/ a as Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES JOSEPH GRANTDINETTI, OF SYRACUSE, NEWfYORK COMBINED BOTTLE FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE Application filed December 28, 1931.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined bottle filling and capping machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a combined bottle filling and capping machine wherein the bottle is charged with carbonated beverage, provision being made for egress within the bottle during the filling thereof while the machine is sealed upon the 19 bottle neck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle filling and capping machine of the foregoing character of a size primarily intended for home use with the sealing means for the bottle neck comprising manually compressible gaskets through which a tensioned plunger of the capping mechanism is projected for guiding a crimpedcap through the gasket to a cap holder within a casing for retention in position to be received upon a bottle.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing r I Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a combined bottle filling and capping machine constructed in accordance with the present in vention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of a part of the machine showing a bottle neck extended into a casing and the bottle cap support Serial N0. 583,483.

wardly through the bottle neck sealing gasket. I 2

Referring more in detail to the accompanylng drawing, there is illustrated a bottle filling and capping machine includinga supporting frame having a base plate that may be attached to a table or other support as at 11 with a perpendicular standard 12 rising therefrom at one end and is enlarged ard 12 by means of the bracket 16 and car ries a clamp 16a adjustably engaged with the standard. A casing 17 is carried by the lower end of the bracket 16 in spaced relation to the standard 12, the closed upper end 18 thereof having a central opening surrounded by an externally threaded upstanding boss 19 forming a guide for a plunger 20, the boss 19 receiving a gland nut 2l surrounding the plunger 20 with packing material 22- interposed between the nut 21, the upper end of the boss 19 and said plunger. The plunger 20 forms a part of the bottle capping apparatus, one side of the upper end of the plunger exteriorly of the casing 17 havingrack teeth thereon, the plunger 22 extending through and being guided at its upper end by the bearings 24 carried by the upper end of the bracket 16,'the upper end of the bracket carrying a pinion cooperating with the rack teeth 23 and operatedby the hand wheel 25. The lower end of the plunger 20 is provided with a relatively deep socket 26'and said lower end is provided with an enlarged annular bottle capping head 7 having spring fingers in the side walls thereof for engagement with a crimped bottle cap 29 for holding the same in position in the lower open end of the ca'pping'head 27. A coil spring 30 within the socket 26 of'the plunger 20 isengaged by the rod 31 slidable in the plunger socket and guided by the bearing 32 at the lower end of the socket as shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the rod 31 carrying a disk head 33 that is engaged by the spring 30 and to be engaged with the bearing 32 to prevent escape of the rod, while the lower end of said rod 31 is provided with a disk head 34 for engagement with the bottle cap 29.

The lower open end of the casing 17 is externally threaded as at 35 for the reception of a ring member 36 that is threaded thereon and operated by radial handles 37. An inwardly directed flange 38 is carried by the lower end of the ring 36 and constitutes a retainer for one or more compressible gaskets 39 confined within the ring between the flange 38 and the lower edge of the wall of the casing 17 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. To position the bottle neck 40 into the open lower end of the casing 17, the bottlesupport 15 is swung laterally upon the standard 12, the bottle neck inserted upwardly through the casing and the support 15 then returned to .a position for supporting the bottle as shown in Figure 1. The ring 36 is then threaded upwardly upon the casing 17 for compression of the gaskets 39 to move them into binding water-tight engagement with the neck of the bottle as illustrated in Figure 3. A stop lug 41 carried by the standard 12 is adapted to be engaged by one of the handles 37 of the ring 36 to limit downward unthreading movement ofthe ring upon the casing and to prevent accidental disengagement of the ring from the casing, the threads upon the casing 17 being of a pitch'to cause rapid rise of the ring 36 so that upon rotation of the ring, the handles 37 will escape the stop lug 41 when the ring is threaded in an upward direction upon the casing 17. I

. Carbonated or other beverage is supplied to the casing 17 for charging the bottle 40 and a valve device associated with the easing permits flow of beverage into the casing 17 and. bottle and the exit of air from the bottle and casing 17, the valve mechanism including a valve block/42 projecting laterally of the casing 17 and in communication therewith by way of ports 43 that are enlarged at their outer ends as at 44 for the attachment of pipe lines, the valve block 42 having a cross bore 45 therein for the reception of a valve 46 having ports 47 for controlling flow through the ports 43. the valve 46 carrying a handle projection 43 for the operation of the valve 46. It is to be understood that a container, tank, keg or the like, charged with aerated or carbonated beverage is in pipe line communication with the port ends 44 and when the valve 46 is operated to aline the port 47 with the port 43, the beverage under pressure flows through one of the ports 43 into thecasing 17 to enter the bottle .40, the air forced out of the bottle and into the casing 17 being discharged from the casing through the other port 43 and pipe line to the source of supply of beverage.

When the plunger of the capping apparatus is in its lowered position as illustrated in Figure 5, the rod 31 is projected by the spring 30 through the gasket 39 with the head 34 upon the lower end of the rod disposed below the gasket compressor ring 36. A bottle cap 29 is then engaged with the head 34 of the rod which acts as a guide for the cap when the latter is moved upwardly through the gasket 39 to be engaged with the capper head 27 and spring fingers 528 carried thereby, assuming the position shown in Figure 2. The plunger rod 20 is then raised by the hand wheel 25 to dispose the capper head 27 at the upper end of the casing 17.

The bottle support 15 having been laterally shifted, a bottle 40 has its neck portion introduced through the lower open end of the casing and the support 15 is then returned to a position to'engage the bottle 40. Up-' ward movement of the ring 36 by a threaded action upon the lower end of the casing 17 effects the compression of the gasket 39 to move them into binding water and air-tight engagement with the neck of the bottle as illustrated in Figure 3. The valve 46 is then operated for permitting the flow of carbonated or other beverage into the casing 17 for the filling of the bottle and for the outletting of air from the bottle and casing for return to the source of beverage supply. Vhen the bottle has been suificiently filled, the valve 46 is operated to shut off the supply of beverage, the handle wheel 25 then operated to lower the plunger 20 and to cause the capper head 27 to move the bottle cap 29 into clamping engagement with the neck of the bottle, the plunger and capper head then assuming the position shown in Figure n 3. The ring 36 is then operated to release the gasket 39 from binding engagement with the neck of the bottle and upon laterally shifting the bottle support 15, the bottle is then removed from the casing 17, and as the bottle cap 29 is disengaged from the capper head 27, the spring 30 forces the rod 31 in a downward direction with the head 34 upon the lower end of the rod outwardly of the casing as shown in Figure 5 and in position for receiving and guiding a new bottle cap through the ring and gasket.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In a bottle filling and capping machine, a bottle support, a casing above the bottle support for receiving the neck of the bottle, means for sealing the neck of the botunthreading movement of the ring on the casing.

2. In a bottle filling and capping machine, a bottle support, a casing above the bottle support for receiving the neck of the bottle, means for sealing the neck of the bottle in the casing, a bottle capper carried by the casing and a valve device carried by the casing for controlling the flow of beverage to the casing and the outlet of air from the bottle and easing, said casing being threaded at its lower open end and the bottle neck sealing means comprising a ring threaded on the casing and gaskets interposed between the ring and casing, and means for limiting unthreading movement of the ring on the casing, including radial arms on the ring and a stop lug arranged to be engaged by one of the arms when the ring moves downwardly onto the neck of a bottle.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

JOSEPH GRANDINETTI. 

